Acetylene-gas generator.



"No, 705,739. I Patented 'July 29, I902 A. & P. L. DAVIS.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. (Appiicabion filed Apt. 16. 19001') (No Model.)

S-Sheets-e'Sheet I.

No. 705,739. Patented July 29, I902.

A.& P. L. DAVIS.- A CETYLENE GAS GENERATOR;

(Application filed. Apr. 16, 1900.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Ty: Nonms PETERS up. FNpTO-UTHQ, wAsHmumN Patented July 29,- I902.

A. & P. L. DAVIS. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

" (Application filed Apr. 16, 1900.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Modal.)

Tm: mums Farms 1:04 PNOTQUTHDJA'AsmNGTON, D c,

No. 705,739. Patented My 29, I902.

' A. a P. L. DAVIS.

ACETYLENE .GAS GENERATOR.

(Application mad Apr. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Shuts-Sheet 4'.

we orms I'hYLRS co, mow-mum WASHMGTON, 0 c.

I V i:

No. 705,739. Paten ted m 29, I902.

A. &' P. L. DAVIS. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR (Application flied Apr. 16. 1900.)

(no Modem 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTINE DAVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND PARIS L. DAVIS, OF

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN.

ACETYLENE -GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,739, dated July 29, 1902.

Application filed April 16, 1900. Serial No. 13,101. (No model.)

' T at whom it may concern:. I on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a Beit known that we, AUGUSTINE DAVIS, of plan section of the carbid-receptacle, illus- Ohicago, in the county'of 'Cook andState of trating the contour of the edges of the baflle- Illinois, and PARIS L. DAvIs,;of Marquette, plates. 5 in the county of Marquette a'ndState of Michi In the said drawings, 1 indicates the gengan, have invented certain new. and useful crating-chamber, having a cylindrical body Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, 2, provided at its upper end with a duplicate of which the following is a specification. inner wall 3, thus forming between the two This invention relates to acetylene-gas gen-, Walls an annular space 4, which is filled with 1o erators in whichthe carbid of calcium is fed water to forma sealing-chamber. The gento the water, and has for its object to provide crating-chamber is closed at the top bymeans feeding mechanism which shallbe simple in .ofa cap or bell, designated as a whole by 5 construction and-certain in operation and by and comprising a cylindrical body 6, which means of which uniformity of gas-pressure fits within the spaee 4, and a top 7, which in 15 may be maintained and thecarbidfed auto the preferred form of construction serves to maticallyinvery smallquantities atfrequent support the motor of the feeding mechanintervals, thereby reducing the agitation of ism, the cap 5 thus forming, in combination the water and obtaining a superior dispersion with the water contained in the annular space of heat and purification of gas. 4, a water seal. 20 A further object of our invention is. to in- The carbid-receptacle is indicated at 8 and sure uniformity of gas-pressure during the comprises a cylindrical body open at the top feeding operation. i g and a conical or hopper bottom 9, provided Another object of our invention is to prewith a contracted delivery-mouth 10. This vent choking of the generating-chamber by carbid-receptacle fits within the mouth of the 25 residuum or dust accumulations and to obgenerating-chamber and is provided near its viatethe coating of the carbid when delivupper end with a screen 11, by means of ered by the sludge, thereby preventing local which the entrance of lumps of carbid greater overheating. y than the predetermined size into the recepta- Onr invention also has for its object the ole is prevented. 0 construction of the feeding mechanism in such Mounted centrally within the receptacle 8 a way that the generating-chamber, carbidis a vertical shaft 12, which has its bearings receptacle, and feeding mechanism are readin transverse supporting-pieces 13 and is proilyaccessible for inspection and repair. Pro- -vided at its upper end with a coupling memvision is also made for approximately indiber 14, by means of which it may be connected 5 eating the amount of unconsumed material with a motor. This shaft extends down inthe receptacles through the discharge-mouth 10 of the recep- To these and other ends our invention contacle and is provided, at adistance below the sists in certain novel features,which we will same considerably greater than the size of the now proceed to describe and will then parlargest lump of carbid which can be admitted o ticularly point out in the claims. I in the receptacle through the screen 11, with In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a horizontal feed-plate 15, preferably round a vertical sectional viewof an apparatus emor disk-like in form and rotating along with bodying our invention in one form. Fig. 2 the shaft 12. The location of this feed-plate is an enlarged sectional view of the carbidis such that as the carbid passes out of the 9 5 5 receptacle and its associated parts. Fig. 3is discharge-mouth ofthe receptacle it falls upon a plan view of so much of the structure as is said feed-plate, and when said feed-plate is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan section rotated it carries around with it the carbid taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan lying upon it, with a circular motion in a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, the lower plane at right angles to the direction of feed, 50 end of the carbid-chamber being shown in which is vertical. This movement results in dotted lines, lBig. 6 is a plan section taken a centrifugal action, which tends to cause the carbid lying on the feed-plate to move outward toward the edge of the same, it being eventually discharged over the edge of said plate. drawing of the carbid from underneath the superjacent mass than one of pressing the carbid downward from above, and there results therefrom a free discharge of the carbid,with a minimum tendency to clog at the discharge-month of the receptacle.

In conjunction with the rotating feed-plate we employ one or more non rotating sweeps or scraperblades .16, arranged obliquely with reference to the radius of the disk 15, and consequently at an angle to the path of motion of the surface of the disk. These sweeps are located immediately above the upper surface of the feed-plate and at a right angle, or approximately so, to the plane thereof. In the present instance We have shown four of these sweeps, the same being carried by a ring or annulus 17, suspended by chains or other flexible connections 18 from the bottom of the carbid-receptacle in such a manner that the sweeps are not rigidly held, but are free to yield to a limited extent, and thus prevent clogging and excessive resistance to the action of the motor. In the particular construction shown the ring or annulus 17 and sweeps 16 are made in one piece by cutting out the sweeps along their front and top edges and bending their free endsinward toward the shaft 12, the cut-away portions forming openings for the discharge of the carbid from the feed-plate. Obviously the sweeps may be otherwise constructed and their number may be varied. It will be observed that the relation between the sweeps is such that as the carbid moves outward between the sweeps the space through which it passes is one of constantly-increasing width, so that clogging is avoided. The employment of these sweeps in conjunction with the rotating feeding-plate results in a more positive delivery of the carbid at the edge of the plate and insures a more uniform feed.

Motion is imparted to the shaft 12 and feedplate 15 by means of a motor, which is preferably mounted on top of the cap or cover 5. As shown, the motor is carried by a frame consisting of a bottom plate 19 and a top plate 20, united by connecting-pieces 21 and supported by brackets 22 on the top 7. The motor comprises a spring 23, attached to the frame 24 and coiled around a shaft 25, to which its other end is attached. The shaft 25 is shaped to receive a winding-key at its up- The action is more in the nature of a ed arms and the member 31 witha transverse pin, so that the two members may be separated or engaged by a direct movement from or toward each other in the axial line of the shafts. The motor is provided with a fly 32, connected with the main shaft by means of an ordinary clockwork speed-train, including a fly-shaft 33, and serving to regulate the speed of the motor in a well-known manner. The motor is normally held stationary by means of a brake which presses against the fly-shaft 33, the arrangement of gearing being such that a very slight pressure on said shaft will overcome the strength of the spring and arrest the motion of the motor. In the present instance I have shown this brake as consisting of a horizontal bar 34, sliding in guides and provided with a slot 36, through which the upper end of the flyshaft 33 passes. One end wall of this slot is normally pressed against the shaft 33 by means of a light spring 37, one end of which is secured to the casing 38, which incloses the motor, while its other end passes through an aperture in the slide-bar 34. The motorbrake by means of which the motor isstopped and started is controlled by the bell of the gas-holder through any suitable connecting mechanism, that which we prefer for the purpose being shown and consisting of a rockshaft 39, having an arm 40, which engages the end of the slide-bar 34, and a second arm 41, preferably provided with a spring-coil 42 to give it a yielding action, its extremity being connected by a chain or other flexible connection 43 with the bell of the gas-holder hereinafter described.

44 indicates a vessel the upper portion of which forms a gas-holder, being provided with a bell 45 and the usual water seal for this purpose, while thelower portion forms a waterchamber and sludge-receptacle 46, provided with a conical bottom 47, having a down wardly-inclined lateral outlet 48, closed by a suitable valve 49. The body 2 of the generating-chamber is connected with the vessel 44, at one side thereof, immediately above the discharge-outlet 48 of the sludge-receptacle 46. The vessel 44 is provided with an opening 50, through which connection is established between the chambers 1 and 46, and the body 2 is provided with an inclinedbottom 51, which forms an extension of the inclined bottom 47 of the chamber 46 and which, together with the adjacent portion of said bottom 47, forms a single continuous incline from the generating-chamber to the sludge-outlet 48, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 6 ofthe drawings. The normal waterleve1 in the chambers 1 and 46 is about the top of the opening 50, and the chamber 46 is separated from the gas-holder by a diaphragm or partition 52. The gas as it is generated passes up through a suitable conduit, as 53, into the bell 45.

We provide means for preventing the gaspressure from imparting vertical movement to the cap or cover 5 and the motor carried thereby, and for this purpose we prefer to employ an arm 54, which may be swung over the top of the motor to act as a stop to limit the upward movement of the parts or which may be swung to one side, so as to permit their removal. In practice we have shown this arm 54 as constituting the handle of a Valve-stem 55 of a valve 56, controlling a ventpipe 57, by means of which air may be permitted to escape from or enter the generating-chamber 1 during the insertion and removal of the cover.

In order to prevent clogging within the carbid-receptacle bythe bridging of the pieces of carbid therein we employ baffle-plates in the form of downwardly-inclined conical plates which tend to deflect the carbid as it passes downward and prevent the interlocking or wedging of the lumps together. The particular arrangement of these plates which we prefer is that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which an upper baffle-plate 58 is employed in the form of an annular inclined plate socured at its outer edges to the body of the re ceptacle and having a central opening in conjunction with a lower plate 59 in the form of a cone closed at the top and extending outward toward but not to the wall of the recep tacle. The body of the upper baffle-plate is downwardly convergent,while the body of the lower baffle-plate is downwardly divergent. We prefer to make the lower edges of the baffleplates not truly circular in form, but of a form which is of greater diameter in one direction than in another,as indicated at Fig.7. We also prefer to so arrange these plates that their longest diameters are not coincident, but at an angle to each other. The desirability of this arrangement arises from the fact that it prevents the lumps of carbid from forming into a circle which acts as an arch to hold the mass above it, and thereby prevent its feeding downward. While we prefer the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, we find that the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,in which both of the plates are downwardly divergent, produces goodresults, and we may also dispense with the connection of the upper plate to the wall of the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 1. As a further means for preventing clogging we may flatten or somewhat distort the portion of the shaft 12 which lies within the discharge-throat 10 of the receptacle,as shown at 60in Fig. 2, so as to cause it to tend to stir the carbid which occupies the throat. In order to provide means for determining the amount of material remaining in the carbidreceptacle without removing the same, we have provided an indicating apparatus consisting of a suitably-divided indicator disk or scale 61, around whichtravels an indicating-finger 62, mounted on a shaft 63, which carries a gear-wheel 64, which meshes with a pinion on the spring-shaft 25. As the amount of carbid discharged at each revolution of the feed-plate is practically the same,

this indicating mechanism will at all times show approximately how much unused material remains available, without the necessity of opening up the generator to inspect the interior thereof.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: An initial charge of carbid having been fed into the water of the generating-chamber, the gas generated will pass into the bell 45 and will lift the bell, so as to remove its weight from the chains 43, thereby causing the bar 34 to be pressedby the spring 37 against the fly-shaft 33, thus stopping the motor and arresting the feed. As soon as the supply of gas in the bell has been reduced to a sufficient extent for the purpose, the weight of the bell will, through the connecting mechanism provided for that purpose, withdraw the bar 34 from contact with the fiy-shaft and permit the motor to operate, whereupon another charge of carbid will be fed into the water and the bell will again rise, permitting the spring 37 to again arrest the motor. The arrangement is such that the feed occurs with great frequency and the carbid is fed into the water in very small charges, so that the violent ebullition and the dashing up of spray, steam, and dust, which results from the dropping of a large amount of carbid in the water, is avoided, and the generatingchamber is prevented from being befouled and clogged by the same.- At the same time the gas is generated in smaller quantities at one time and more uniformly, therebyallowing greater opportunity for heat dispersion, condensation, and purification. We have found that by feeding the carbid in small amounts by the feeding mechanism devised by us carbid in the form of dust or powder may be employed with practical success.

The comparatively small amount of carbid IIC The feeding mechits comparatively feeble operating spring.

It results from this constructionthat the controlling of the feed from the bell does not subtract to any appreciable extent from the weight of the bell of the gas-holder and the pressure upon the gas is practicallyconstant. Moreover, the independent motor insures gas generation until the bell rises, which rising cannot occur until there is an excess of gas above the consumption. The feeding devices proper are organized to prevent clogging and operate more by the withdrawal of the lower portion of the carbid than by any pressure from above, so that packing or bridging of the carbid is prevented and certainty of feeding is obtained. The removability of the entire feeding mechanism, both as to the motor and as to the feeding devices proper,-permits constant and ready inspection and renders these devices easily accessible for repairs, while at the same time it permits immediate substitution of duplicate apparatus in case of injury. The arrangement of the generating-chamber proper at one side of but in immediate communication with the comparatively large main water-andsludge chamber insures a proper circulation and free intermingling of the water in the two chambers, while the arrangement of the inclined bottom of the generating-chamber as a direct extension of the inclined bottom of' the sludge'chamber and immediately in line with the sludge-discharge pocket prevents the accumulation of sludge at the bottom of the generating-chamber, immediately below the point where the carbid enters the water. It results from this that the freshly-fed pieces of carbid are not discharged into a mass of sludge, which might envelop or coat the particles, and thereby cause them to become overheated before complete hydration could occur. This prevention of local overheating insures a better quality of gas.

We do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise details of construction shown and described as constituting one embodiment of our invention, since it is obvious that various modifications inthe structure may be made without departing from the principle of our invention.

We claim 1. The combination with a stationary casing having an open upper end and a peripheral annular water-chamber, of a carbid-receptacle removably seated in said stationary casing, said receptacle having an open discharge-mouth at its lower end, a cap or bell the top whereof constitutes a cover for the carbid-receptacle and the depending walls whereof enter the annular Water-chamber of the casing to constitute therewith a water seal, a horizontal feed-plate located below the mouth of the carbid-receptacle, a vertical driving-shaft extending therefrom upwardly through said receptacle and the top of said cap, and means for imparting a rotary motion to said feed-plate through said shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a stationary oasing having an open upper end and a peripheral annular water-chamber, of a carbid-receptacle removably seated in said stationary casing, said receptacle having an open discharge-mouth at its lower end, a cap or bell the top whereof constitutes a cover for the carbid-receptacle and the depending walls whereof enter the annular water-chamber of the casing to constitute therewith a water seal, a horizontal feed-plate located below the mouth of the carbid-receptacle, a vertical driving-shaft extending therefrom upwardly through said receptacle and the top of said cap, a coupling connecting separated ends of said shaft within said carbid-receptacle, and means for imparting a rotary motion to said feed-plate through said shaft and its coupling member, vsubstantially as described.

3. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having an open mouth at its lower end, of a horizontal feed-plate located below said mouth, a universally yieldable sweep or scraper flexibly suspended over said feedplate, and means for rotating said feed-plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having an open discharge-mouth at its lower end, of a horizontal feed-plate located below said mouth, a plurality of universallyyieldable sweeps or scrapers flexibly suspended over said feed-plate, and means for rotating said feed-plate, substantially as de scribed.

5. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having an open discharge-mouth in its lower portion, of a horizontal feed-plate located below said mouth, means for rotating said feed-plate, and an annulus flexibly suspended over said feed-plate and provided with one or more sweeps or scrapers, extending diagonally over said plate, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a vertical carbidreceptacle having an open discharge-mouth 'in its lower portion, of conical bafile-plates located within said receptacle, said-plates being oval in peripheral contour and having their longest diameter disposed at an angle to each other.

7. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having a contracted open dischargemouth at its lower end, and a horizontal rotary feed-plate located below said mouth, of conical baffle-plates within the carbid-receptacle, said plates being oval in peripheral contour and asymmetrical relatively to each other and having their longer diameters arranged at an angle to each other, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having a contracted open mouth in its lower end, of a horizontal feed-plate located below said mouth, and a vertical shaft carrying said plate, extending upward through the receptacle and having that portion which lies within the discharge-mouth flattened ,substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having an open discharge-mouth in its lower end, and a horizontal feed-plate located below said mouth and provided with a vertical shaft extending upwardly through the receptacle, of an independent motor connected with the upper end of said shaft, and means controlled by the variations in volume of the generated gas for stopping and starting said motor, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a carbid-receptacle having an open discharge-mouth in its lower portion, of a horizontal feed-plate located below said mouth, an independent motor connected with said feed-plate to rotate the same, a brake normally holding said mo tor stationary, and means controlled by the variations in volume of the generated gas for releasing said brake, substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination with an open-topped generating-chamber provided about its periphery with an annular sealing-chamber, of a carbid-receptacle provided with feed devices and removably located within the gencrating-chamber, a removable cap entering said sealing-chamber and constituting there-.

with a water seal, the top of said cap resting on and forming a cover for the carbid-receptacle, and an independent motor for the feed devices carried on the top of said cap and removable therewith,substantiallyas described.

12. The combination with an open-topped generating-chamber provided about its periphery with-an annular sealing-chamber, of a carbid-recept-acle provided with feed devices and removably located within the generating-chamber, a removable cap entering said sealing-chamber and constituting therewith a waterseal, the top of said cap resting on and forming a cover for the carbid-receptacle, an independent motor for the feed devices carried on the top of said cap and removable therewith, and means for locking 

